United States Soccer

Page 155 of Originally Posted by dolamite Either way it looks as if the squad will be in good hands without Howard manning the backline. We're the USA. If nothing ... 2334 comments | 91708 Views | Go to page 1 →

It's very simple...rich talented kids can play select. Poor talented kids cannot. You're alienating about 80% of your talented players by forcing them to pay $2,000-4,000 a year.

I'm not for a moment suggesting there aren't major issues, just pointing out that "Select soccer is terrible for our youth development" is probably over-simplifying it.

I also don't think for a moment that a rush of "inner city kids" are going to give up Basketball (and their dream of playing in the NBA and being the next LeBron) to commit 10+ hours a week to soccer. I know of a local club that has given out MANY full scholarships to talented young players who otherwise couldn't have played, and in 100% of those cases over the last 4 years, the kids have quit at some point the first season before it was completed.

To lay the entirety of USA Soccer's development issues at the feet of "Select Soccer" is, to be kind, misguided.

I'm not for a moment suggesting there aren't major issues, just pointing out that "Select soccer is terrible for our youth development" is probably over-simplifying it.

I also don't think for a moment that a rush of "inner city kids" are going to give up Basketball (and their dream of playing in the NBA and being the next LeBron) to commit 10+ hours a week to soccer. I know of a local club that has given out MANY full scholarships to talented young players who otherwise couldn't have played, and in 100% of those cases over the last 4 years, the kids have quit at some point the first season before it was completed.

To lay the entirety of USA Soccer's development issues at the feet of "Select Soccer" is, to be kind, misguided.

Im' in no way laying all of USA Soccer's issues on youth soccer. I'm just saying that there's a problem there.

Im' in no way laying all of USA Soccer's issues on youth soccer. I'm just saying that there's a problem there.

From my dealings with youth club teams and ODP, there seems to be a Country Club type culture, which some kids just are not comfortable with. This does not even take into account the money and time required to participate.

From my dealings with youth club teams and ODP, there seems to be a Country Club type culture, which some kids just are not comfortable with. This does not even take into account the money and time required to participate.

I tend to agree with @Wireman that the select soccer phenomena in the US hurts the development of the country as a whole. But then again how do you compete with countries like Spain and Germany who identify talent at a young age rich or poor and get them into academies? I'm not sure the structure of US sports in general lends to this type of program. I'm not sold on the US ever being able to compete internationally. I don't ever see the "country club" model leaving over here either.

It's almost 12 hours later and I'm more furious than I was before I went to sleep.

If we don't start seeing massive changes in US Soccer in the next couple years, I'm out on these guys. The MLS teams are finally starting to have academies and that's a nice start; it should be the beginning of the end of pay to play youth soccer.

The next coach is a huge area of concern. Arena was exactly what Sunil Gulati and the USSF wanted: an MLS guy. Tonight's lineup was Pulisic, Yedlin and the MLS all stars... and they weren't anywhere NEAR good enough. We should expect more from our biggest professional league and we should expect more from the national team.

Whatever. Club over country, every time.

Go Lou City.

Arena was a clear step down when we let Klinsmann go. I will say I was and still am a supporter of Jurgen because like him or not he tried to play a more aggressive style and to help advance the US game. He also put a priority on players playing on good teams in good leagues. Heck he had big reservations for US players coming home to play in the MLS. The USMNT should not have to walk hand in hand with MLS nor should it be used to promote it and its players. We should field the best team we can using the players we believe to be the best for it from any league. This may seem a little like I’m rambling but like many of you, last night angered me.

Bruce Arena needs to be let go now. Our tactics and play have regressed under him and have not advanced or taken another step forward. Gulati IMO also needs to go because he got the guy he wanted in Arena to help promote the MLS and be the mouthpiece for it and that is not what the USMNT is about. We need to clean house and re-evaluate everything and everyone and that starts from the very top.